Are You an Encourager

Are You an Encourager?

July 6, 2008

Introduction

Today, there are many voices of discouragement. If you feel you need to be a little more discouraged than you are, I would suggest that you listen to the news. You will learn that the price of oil has probably hit a new all time high. You will hear that the stock market is now a bear market. The housing crisis continues in a slump, so there is much bad news to depress and discourage people today.

In the midst of all of this, my phone rang yesterday, and the name of a man for whom we built a home over ten years ago, came up on my caller ID. He said his daughter wanted to look at one of our homes because she liked his home, and the workmanship we put into it. His words were encouraging. His interest in our homes was a pick me up.

Encouragement comes in many different forms and many different ways. Encouragement can make such a difference in our lives. This morning, some of you are discouraged for various reasons. Some of you, who may be discouraged in various ways, have encouraged me by kindly and encouraging words.

Body

I. Sometimes we can encourage when we are discouraged.

A. When we are down, we may be able to encourage someone else.

B. My older sister, Alma, used to have a little poem that she would say,

If ever you blue,

There’s one thing you can do.

Make some body happy,

And you’ll be happy too.

Alma always added one word to the last line, just to finish the thought at least in her mind:

“And you’ll be happy too, then.”

II. Some people just seem bent on encouraging other people.

A. Barnabas was named Barnabas as a nickname. It means “son of encouragement.”

(Acts 4:36-37 KJV) And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, {37} Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

1. It is interesting to note that we can be encouragers if we will, but it is hard to call for someone to encourage us. -- Sometimes people do.

a. Various calls for help are sometimes calls for encouragement.

b. Sometimes we just need to realize someone needs encouragement.

(1) It may be someone with a health problem.

(2) It may be someone with a financial problem.

(3) It may be someone with a marriage problems.

(4) It may be someone with a problem with their children.

(5) All of these are very real, and we may not be able to solve any of these problems, but sometimes a listening ear can mean a lot.

2. Barnabas sought out the apostle Paul when he was probably at a very low point in his life.

(Acts 9:26-30 KJV) And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. {27} But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. {28} And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. {29} And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. {30} Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

B. We can be an encourager

1. Jesus said He is always with us, and that should be an encouragement to us.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

II. How can we be encouraged?

A. By seeing God’s hand at work in our lives.

1. For David, it was God’s help in killing the lion and the bear.

(1 Sam 17:34-36 KJV) And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: {35} And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. {36} Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

2. Most of us do not fight with lions and bears. -- but what are our fights?

(Eph 6:12-19 NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. {13} Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. {14} Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, {15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; {18} praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; {19} and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

B. Our trials may be relationships with people trials.

1. It could be members of our own family.

a. Maybe they are out of Christ, or not living right.

b. Maybe we feel they are not treating us fairly.

2. It may be people who work with us, or for us.

3. It may be customers that we deal with.

4. The challenge may be two sided:

a. They annoy us by the things they do.

b. Yet we are Christ representative to them.

Conclusion

I. We are encouraged to help one another.

Philippians 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

II. We need to find encouragement in the Word of God and our experiences of answered prayers in our lives.

III. Are you all you can be?

IV. If there is something in your life you need to make right, there is no better time than now.

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